From the age of 6 months, your baby becomes more sensitive, interactive, dexterous with their hands, and increasingly interested in the world around them almost every day. Playing and connecting with them significantly stimulates their growth and development. So, we suggest a few simple games that will entertain your baby, strengthen their mind and muscles, while making them very happy and satisfied. Some games are short and sweet, while others will last a bit longer. Some require a bit of preparation, while others you can start immediately. One thing is certain, you will have a great time together.
Reach and Grab
Preparation Time: None | Materials: Toy
Your baby should now be reaching for objects, and this game encourages them to grab them. Place the baby on the floor on their stomach, then put a toy on the carpet out of their reach. If they want it, they will have to move! However, if your baby becomes frustrated after a few attempts, move the toy closer to within reach. When they grab it, praise them.
Go Through the Tunnel
Preparation Time: 1 min | Materials: Cardboard box, blanket, toy
This is an extension of the “Reach and Grab” game, which this time encourages crawling. Take a large cardboard box, open it, and place it next to a soft blanket on the floor. Lay the baby on their stomach at one of the open ends, and place a toy on the floor inside the box, slightly out of their reach. Encourage the baby to stretch to reach the toy. Over time, as your baby becomes more mobile, you can place the toy further and further away until, eventually, your baby crawls right through the tunnel.
Let It Rip
Preparation Time: 2 min | Materials: Paper (lots of it!)
This game involves tearing: gather many different types of paper materials – newspapers, magazine pages, tissues, kitchen paper, thin cards, and show your baby how to gather and tear them. (It’s fun for adults too!) Younger babies might end up simply stuffing the paper into their mouths instead of tearing it – in that case, stop and move on to another game.
Fill the Treasure Basket
Preparation Time: 2 min | Materials: Basket, toys or household items
Babies love to use their hands to explore different shapes and materials, so fill an open basket with a small collection of items. Think about how each item feels in the hand – smooth, soft, textured, hard, furry, check how heavy it is, and aim for a variety of materials. Good suggestions are a wooden spoon, a shell, a plastic shovel, a small soft toy, a pine cone, a wooden or plastic bracelet. Give the basket to your baby and they will be very busy putting items in and taking them out, looking at them, and sorting them. Keep the basket handy for daily play and regularly change the contents.
